Abstract: An actuator assembly that includes an actuator device. The actuator device includes a tubular housing with a first end and a second end, the tubular housing defining a storage chamber containing a pyrotechnic material to produce gas. At least one electrical connection is coupled to the first end, the electrical connection in reaction initiating communication with the pyrotechnic material. An actuator housing that partially encompasses the tubular housing, wherein an outer surface of the actuator housing comprises a hexagon shaped portion that extends along a longitudinal direction of the actuator housing. An assembly housing at least partially encompasses the actuator device, wherein an inner surface of the assembly housing comprises an engaging surface portion that extends along a longitudinal direction of the assembly housing that corresponds to and slidably engages with the hexagon shaped portion of the actuator housing.

Abstract: An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes a housing configured to be mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle and an inflator assembly at least partially disposed within the housing. The inflatable airbag system includes an airbag that receives inflation gas from the inflator assembly to expand and deploy out of the housing from a packaged configuration to a deployed configuration to provide occupant crash protection during a collision event, the airbag defining an inflatable chamber. A diffuser is disposed within the inflatable chamber and is in fluid communication with the inflator assembly. An occupant-facing panel of the diffuser comprises an aperture disposed in the center of the occupant-facing panel of the diffuser.

Abstract: A seat belt pretensioner for use in a seat belt pretensioning retractor assembly includes a pretensioner tube in fluid communication with a gas generator, and a driving element with a piston disposed inside the pretensioner tube and formed a flexible elongated rod. At least a portion of an outer surface of the elongated rod spaced from an inside surface of the pretensioner tube defines at least one clearance space to be filled by the deformed elongated rod in the event that a gas pressure from the gas generator is applied to the piston when a sprocket is engaged with the elongated rod causing an overpressure condition in an actuation volume defined between the piston and the gas generator within the pretensioner tube.

Abstract: Pillar release mechanisms and related airbag cushion assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise a curtain airbag assembly comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion configured to be inflated with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may extend along an elongated axis and the curtain airbag assembly may be configured to be positioned within and deploy from a panel of a vehicle. The assembly may further comprise a release mechanism coupled with the curtain airbag cushion and configured to be coupled with the panel. The release mechanism may be configured to release the panel using an initial deployment force from the curtain airbag cushion, the initial deployment force being in a direction at least substantially parallel to the elongated axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an expanded metal filter for use with an automotive safety device, such an inflatable airbag system. The expanded metal filter is composed of a plurality of expanded metal layers, wherein when a first expanded metal layer is turned over or inverted the peaks of the first expanded metal layer conform to valleys of a second expanded metal layer, and valleys of the first expanded metal layer conform to peaks of the first expanded layer whereby the first and second expanded layers nest together.

Abstract: A forked far-side airbag assembly includes a housing to be mounted in an inboard portion of a seat of a vehicle and an inflator assembly that is at least partially disposed within the housing. The forked far-side airbag assembly includes an airbag in a packaged state within the housing, the airbag to receive inflation gas to expand and deploy from the housing to a deployed state. The airbag assembly includes a first inflatable chamber extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle, and a second inflatable chamber oriented at a first angle from an inboard side of the first inflatable chamber, and a third inflatable chamber oriented at a second angle from the inboard side of the first inflatable chamber, wherein the first angle is different from the second angle.

Abstract: Airbag modules comprising inflator mounting openings and/or slots. Some embodiments may comprise a cover having an inflator coupled thereto and may further comprise a fastener used to couple the inflator with the housing. A mounting opening may be configured to receive the fastener, wherein the mounting opening is configured to allow material defining the mounting opening to flex during installation of the fastener to reduce a force required to advance the fastener through the mounting opening. The mounting opening may be further configured to resist withdrawal of the fastener after being fully seated in the mounting opening such that a greater amount of force is required to withdraw the fastener from the mounting opening than is required to advance the fastener through the mounting opening.

Abstract: Tabs for coupling or securing an airbag to a vehicle are provided. A tab may include a first panel and a second panel that meet at a foldable portion. First and second arms may extend away from a central portion of the first panel in substantially opposite directions. First and second recesses may extend inward from first and second lateral edges, respectively, of the second panel. The tab may be configured to be folded to form a bracket receiving member. The bracket receiving member may be configured to be disposed through an aperture of a bracket to secure the tab to the vehicle. Additionally, the first and second panels of the tab may be configured to be secured to an airbag to secure the airbag to the vehicle via the tab and the bracket.

Abstract: Light bar assemblies configured to be mounted to a rim of a steering wheel of a vehicle are disclosed. The light bar assemblies can include components of a driver monitoring system. The light bar assembly includes two shells defining or surrounding the rim and a wrapping surrounding the two shells. A portion of the wrapping is tucked into a slot disposed between the two shells forming a slit. A lens is disposed within the slit and pinched by the wrapping to prevent leakage of light around the lens.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed in which a seal is formed between an interior of an airbag inflator base and an exterior environment. A polymeric member of a membrane seal can form a solid state bond with an overmold of an electrical connector of an initiator of an airbag inflator. Furthermore, an adhesive film of the membrane seal can bond to the airbag inflator base at a position disposed at least partially around a recess through which the overmold couples an initiator to the airbag inflator base.

Abstract: A throat and fill tube protection device for an inflatable airbag includes a first portion, a second portion and an overlapping region. The first portion is a generally Y-shaped portion with a first arm and a second arm connected at a base. The first arm defines an inlet for receiving an inflator. The second arm defines a first channel for directing a first portion of the inflation gases in a first direction. The second portion defines a second channel for directing a second portion of the inflation gases in a second direction. The second direction is generally opposite the first direction. The overlapping region is cooperatively defined by first and second overlapping areas of the first and second portions, respectively.

Abstract: An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle including an inflator, an inflatable airbag and a protection device for protecting the throat and fill tube of the inflatable airbag. The inflator is configured for generating inflation gases having an effective exit gas temperature (EGT) less than or equal to 300 degrees Kelvin. The inflatable airbag is formed from one or more panels and defines an interior volume including a plurality of inflatable chambers expandable upon deployment from a stowed state to a deployed state. The interior volume of the inflatable airbag is in fluid communication with the inflator such that inflation gases are passed through the throat and directed to the plurality of inflatable chambers by the fill tube. The one or more panels are constructed from at least one material selected from a group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A lens assembly includes a lens housing, a flexible washer, and a lens module. The flexible washer and the lens module are disposed within a tubular sidewall of the lens housing. The washer is disposed axially between a mating surface of the lens module and a base surface of the lens housing. The lens housing and lens module include corresponding threads, and rotation of the lens module along the threads of the lens housing adjusts the axial position and focus of the lens module. The washer is the only component axially between the lens module and the lens housing and directly contacts the base surface and the mating surface. When compressed, the washer exerts an axial force on the lens module and lens housing, such that the friction on the threads is increased and the lens module is held in place.

Abstract: A seatbelt pretensioning retractor assembly for use in a vehicle is provided. The pretensioning assembly includes a tube in fluid communication with a gas generator and a driving element disposed therein that travels in a first direction in response to actuation of the gas generator. The driving element includes a polymer rod. A stopper is coupled to an end portion of the polymer rod. In one example, a seal member disposed between the gas generator and the stopper includes a head section and a skirt section. In another example, the tube has an opening that is adjacent to an exit to facilitate venting gas from the gas generator.

Abstract: A vehicle seat belt assembly having a seat belt retractor with a spool rotatable with respect to a retractor frame, the spool storing a seat belt webbing wrapped thereon. The retractor also includes a primary locking mechanism for selectively locking the spool with respect to the retractor frame to provide vehicle occupant restraint. The retractor further includes an auxiliary locking mechanism for selectively locking the spool with respect to the retractor frame upon a predetermined restraint load acting on the spool.

Abstract: Pyrotechnic switch (1) including: at least a first circuit portion (10) with two connection terminals (11a, 11b), arranged to be part of an electrical circuit, a mobile body (20), arranged to pass from a first position to a second position, and thereby cause an opening of the first circuit portion (10), a pyrotechnic actuator, arranged to control the movement of the mobile body (20) from the first to the second position, a fuse element (30) such as a fuse, arranged to interrupt an electric current passing between the terminals of the first circuit portion (11a, 11b), characterized in that the fuse element (30) is isolated from at least one of the terminals of the first circuit portion (11a, 11b) when the mobile body (20) is in the first position.

Abstract: Lateral airbag cushions for preventing or inhibiting inboard occupant excursion. Some embodiments may comprise an inflatable cushion configured to deploy adjacent to a vehicle seat laterally of a vehicle occupant and a tether coupled with the inflatable cushion. The tether may be configured to be coupled to the vehicle seat at opposite ends and may be configured to, upon deployment, form the inflatable cushion into a pocket or other lateral engagement structure adjacent to the vehicle occupant to engage a shoulder and/or arm region of the vehicle occupant to prevent or at least inhibit inboard/lateral excursion during an impact event.

Abstract: A side curtain airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion having a length and a height; a wrapper sheet having a length extending along the airbag cushion and a width perpendicular to the length; and a plurality of mounting strips distributed along the length. Each mounting strip includes a mounting bracket; a wrapping strip; and a connector strap. The wrapper sheet extends across at least two of the mounting strips and is affixed to the airbag cushion by at least one seam composed of stitches. The stitches divide the length of the wrapper sheet into a first partial width and a second partial width of the wrapper sheet. The first partial width of the wrapper sheet has a plurality of cutout openings distributed along an outer edge extending along the length of the wrapper sheet and aligned with the mounting strips. The second partial width can be free of cutout openings.

Abstract: A gas generator including a diffuser for diffusing inflation gases generated by an inflator of the gas generator. The gas generator includes at least a first mounting stud. The diffuser has a cylindrical sidewall axially extending between first and second axial ends and circumferentially extending between first and second axially extending sides. A gap is defined between the first and second axially extending sides. The cylindrical sidewall includes a plurality of holes radially extend therethrough and includes a slot having a closed end and an open end. The diffuser circumferentially surrounds a portion of the cylindrical housing of the inflator with the first mounting stud disposed in the slot.

Abstract: Inflatable airbag assemblies are disclosed that include an inflatable airbag cushion that deploys rearward from an instrument panel and forward of a vehicle seating position and that include a forward-facing surface configured with a forward protrusion to engage a blind hole of an instrument panel, or a blind end of blind hole of the instrument panel, or blind hole of the instrument panel comprising a shelf.